Corrupt Chinese tycoon Ni Ritao, linked to infamous scandal, lied to Canadian court about secret bribery conviction
An SCMP investigation into mainland paper magnate Ni Ritao has revealed how he lied to a Vancouver court about his convictions for graft and forgery, falsely claiming he had been fully exonerated
16 Dec, 2016
The mainland and Canadian documents relate to paper magnate Ni Ritao, a key figure in the downfall of former energy minister and senior Chinese economic planner Liu Tienan, who was himself sentenced to life in prison for corruption in 2014.
But Ni’s own legal fate has been shrouded in mystery. After he emerged from more than two years in Chinese detention in March 2015, Ni told BC’s Supreme Court in an affidavit that he had enjoyed “full exoneration”, having assisted authorities with their investigation of “an allegation of corruption against a senior government official”.
Since my full exoneration ... I have also applied for a Canadian Visa
“The allegation of corruption was not against me,” Ni said in the affidavit, signed on September 23, 2015, as part of a damages lawsuit he has filed against former employees of his Canadian firms, and others.
He said: “Since my full exoneration and with the restoration of my right to travel abroad, I have also applied for a Canadian visa in order to be able to travel to attend proceedings in Vancouver.”
However, a partially anonymised Chinese court ruling obtained during an SCMP investigation shows that a corruption defendant identified only as “Ni A” was in fact convicted of bribery and forging state documents and sentenced to two years in jail by the Hejian City People’s Court of Hebei early last year.
“Ni A” is clearly identifiable as Ni Ritao by his date of birth on August 19, 1962, as well as references to two of Ni Ritao’s Canadian firms, CGR and Sun Wave Property, and numerous circumstances described in the verdict.
Read more: Ni Ritao’s affadavit claiming “full exoneration”
“The allegation of corruption was not against me,” Ni said in the affidavit, signed on September 23, 2015, as part of a damages lawsuit he has filed against former employees of his Canadian firms, and others.
He said: “Since my full exoneration and with the restoration of my right to travel abroad, I have also applied for a Canadian visa in order to be able to travel to attend proceedings in Vancouver.”
However, a partially anonymised Chinese court ruling obtained during an SCMP investigation shows that a corruption defendant identified only as “Ni A” was in fact convicted of bribery and forging state documents and sentenced to two years in jail by the Hejian City People’s Court of Hebei early last year.
“Ni A” is clearly identifiable as Ni Ritao by his date of birth on August 19, 1962, as well as references to two of Ni Ritao’s Canadian firms, CGR and Sun Wave Property, and numerous circumstances described in the verdict.
Read more: Ni Ritao’s affadavit claiming “full exoneration”
Ni had no objection against the public prosecution’s accusations that he had committed organisational bribery
“Ni had no objection against the public prosecution’s accusations that he had committed organisational bribery and altered official documents,” the Chinese judgement says.
The ruling makes no mention of Ni’s links to Liu. It instead centres on Ni’s confessed bribery of another politician, Lin Xiushan, former mayor of Qiqihar, a city of more than 5 million people in Heilongjiang Province.
The revelations come as Ni continues to battle over the fate of millions worth of Canadian assets.
Additional Information re: Watson Island
B.C. Liberal members chose Andrew Wilkinson as their new leader.
“Think about fiscal responsibility, that we are the party that does not spend our children’s money,” Wilkinson told the crowd at the Wall Centre hotel. “All of us have to come together now.”
On Feb. 3, with six candidates to choose from, it was the Vancouver-Quilcherna MLA who won with 4,621 points. The race was close in the North Coast district with Wilkinson taking 39.5 per cent (119 votes) and Dianne Watts with 35 per cent (106 votes).
“I think he’s a great choice and I think he’ll do well for leading us into the province. He’s a highly educated man. He served one term and he has the experience necessary and I think he’ll do well against Horgan in the debates. I look forward to a new start,” said Judy Fraser, B.C. Liberal Party member in Prince Rupert.
READ MORE: BC Liberal leader hopeful Wilkinson shares vision with Rupertites
Since winning the leadership a few articles have surfaced reminding the public of Wilkinson’s past connection to Prince Rupert. The former lawyer once represented Ni Ritao and Sun Wave Forest Products in court against the City of Prince Rupert until March 27, 2012.
Sun Wave had purchased the Skeena-Cellulose pulp mill on Watson Island promising to re-start the mill and employ hundreds of residents. In 2006, the city had given the Chinese government-backed company a multi-million-dollar tax break to help bring the pulp mill back to life.
READ MORE: Prince Rupert’s island of dreams and nightmares
However, it never happened and by 2009 the city seized the property and billed Sun Wave. Reclaiming Watson Island cost the city approximately $90,000 a month. Meanwhile, Ni Ritao was investigated by Chinese authorities for an alleged bank-loan fraud involving the pulp mill.
Sun Wave tried to sue the City of Prince Rupert for seizing the site, which cost the city $250,000 per year in legal fees.
In 2017, the city turned to a new chapter on Watson Island, finalizing the decommissioning of the pulp mill site and announcing Pembina’s intention to build a propane terminal on the site.
READ MORE: Pembina’s Watson Island plans unveiled at open house
Jack Mussallem, who was mayor from 2009-2014, and heavily involved in trying to get the site cleaned up said, “It’s water under the bridge. Through the Liberal government they did help the City of Prince Rupert dispose of some the chemicals that were there, things like green liquor, black liquor, caustic as well as some other substances. They helped out, I think, to the tune of about $12 million if my memory is correct.
“But like I said, it was a while ago.”
“Ni had no objection against the public prosecution’s accusations that he had committed organisational bribery and altered official documents,” the Chinese judgement says.
The ruling makes no mention of Ni’s links to Liu. It instead centres on Ni’s confessed bribery of another politician, Lin Xiushan, former mayor of Qiqihar, a city of more than 5 million people in Heilongjiang Province.
The revelations come as Ni continues to battle over the fate of millions worth of Canadian assets.
Additional Information re: Watson Island
B.C. Liberal members chose Andrew Wilkinson as their new leader.
“Think about fiscal responsibility, that we are the party that does not spend our children’s money,” Wilkinson told the crowd at the Wall Centre hotel. “All of us have to come together now.”
On Feb. 3, with six candidates to choose from, it was the Vancouver-Quilcherna MLA who won with 4,621 points. The race was close in the North Coast district with Wilkinson taking 39.5 per cent (119 votes) and Dianne Watts with 35 per cent (106 votes).
“I think he’s a great choice and I think he’ll do well for leading us into the province. He’s a highly educated man. He served one term and he has the experience necessary and I think he’ll do well against Horgan in the debates. I look forward to a new start,” said Judy Fraser, B.C. Liberal Party member in Prince Rupert.
READ MORE: BC Liberal leader hopeful Wilkinson shares vision with Rupertites
Since winning the leadership a few articles have surfaced reminding the public of Wilkinson’s past connection to Prince Rupert. The former lawyer once represented Ni Ritao and Sun Wave Forest Products in court against the City of Prince Rupert until March 27, 2012.
Sun Wave had purchased the Skeena-Cellulose pulp mill on Watson Island promising to re-start the mill and employ hundreds of residents. In 2006, the city had given the Chinese government-backed company a multi-million-dollar tax break to help bring the pulp mill back to life.
READ MORE: Prince Rupert’s island of dreams and nightmares
However, it never happened and by 2009 the city seized the property and billed Sun Wave. Reclaiming Watson Island cost the city approximately $90,000 a month. Meanwhile, Ni Ritao was investigated by Chinese authorities for an alleged bank-loan fraud involving the pulp mill.
Sun Wave tried to sue the City of Prince Rupert for seizing the site, which cost the city $250,000 per year in legal fees.
In 2017, the city turned to a new chapter on Watson Island, finalizing the decommissioning of the pulp mill site and announcing Pembina’s intention to build a propane terminal on the site.
READ MORE: Pembina’s Watson Island plans unveiled at open house
Jack Mussallem, who was mayor from 2009-2014, and heavily involved in trying to get the site cleaned up said, “It’s water under the bridge. Through the Liberal government they did help the City of Prince Rupert dispose of some the chemicals that were there, things like green liquor, black liquor, caustic as well as some other substances. They helped out, I think, to the tune of about $12 million if my memory is correct.
“But like I said, it was a while ago.”
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